Monday, April 3, 2006

Episode #153 Chapter 14, part 9 Reunion part 8 --the Outlaw Star-- --Aisha’s room-- Melfina: Artukei seems like a great guy, Aisha. I’m really happy for you. Suzuka: He has a kind and noble heart. He really is a rare breed. Aisha: Thanks you two. I know. I’m lucky to have met him. Melfina: It’s going to be wonderful to see the two of you get married. Aisha: ...... *sigh* Melfina: Aisha, what’s wrong? Aisha: ... well... Suzuka: You’re not having second thoughts, are you? Aisha: .... I love Justin. I really do. But recently.... I’ve been reminded of certain.... “complications” and.... now I’m not sure if I can go through with it. --the galley-- Jim: So, they were using a black swan. But the galactic records show that no-one’s used the symbol for hundreds of years. Whoever these guys are, they’re operating way under the radar. Gene: (walks in) Everything’s all set. You sure about this? Justin: Orozan said we’d find our next clue back at Ambrose. Gene: Couldn’t he just tell you who did this or what their ship looked like? Justin: Orozan doesn’t know everything, Gene. He’s not a god. Gene: But if the Zilders have all those powers, why didn’t they defend themselves? Justin: I think those guns that were used to kidnap them discharged some kind of psychic disruption; canceling out their powers. Jim: Also, Zilders are a peaceful race. They never use their powers to attack. Gene: Hmph. What a waste. So, how’s someone like you set up a telepathic link with an alien over 25 million light years away? Justin: Actually, I met Ozz back on Earth. That was 4... no, almost 5 years ago. I met him through a friend of mine; a scientist. --Washu’s lab-- --almost 5 years ago-- Justin: (18 years old, clean shaven, short haired, and no glasses) It’ll be so cool! I’ve already drawn a rough schematic for it. (hands a piece of notebook paper to Washu) Whadaya think? I’m thinking about calling it “The Cloud Cutter”. Cool huh? Washu: (looks at the crude drawing, glances up) Justin, was it? You are my kind of crazy. Justin: Oh, I’m all kinds of crazy. So, what’d you want me for? Washu: I just need your help with some research I’m doing. Maybe answer a few questions. Justin: OK. Mind if I have a look around? Washu: No, go ahead. Just don’t touch anything. Justin: (starts to look around) Washu: And don’t wander too far... (under her breath) my little inter-dimensional friend. (puts on a rubber glove) “shuffle! rattle! clank!” Justin: Huh? (spies a nearby rattling crate) What’s in there? Washu: In there? You don’t want to know. Justin: (inches closer to the crate as it rocks and jumps) ...... (tries to look through one of the cracks) “SCREEEEEEEEEEE!!!” A long barbed tongue lashes at Justin from inside the crate. Justin: (leaps back) What the heck is in there!? Washu: A Ferillian garnak. And if you want your face to stay where it is, you’ll keep away from it. Feisty little critter. Justin: No kidding. (continues to wander deeper into the lab, noticing all the live creatures and specimens) Wow. This place is like the biology lab.... only bigger.... and more chrome...... and no overwhelming smell of formaldehyde. Hmm. (looks inside a large containment chamber and sees a small blue orb floating in the middle) Hmmm. What the heck is that? A little head with big black eyes, two leaf shaped ears, and a pair of antennae pop out of the orb. The orb then uncurls itself into a long slender figure. The creature looks like a fuzzy blue ferret. It has two small front paws about half the size of a human palm and three stubby little fingers on each. It has no rear legs, but rather two flipper-like stumps that funnel into two long tails. They look thread-like and delicate and are nearly twice the length of its body. At the tips of both of them, a small teardrop shaped node of fur. The creature floats in midair and its body and tails snake and curve as if underwater. It stares at Justin for a moment, then tilts its head to the side in curiosity. Justin raises an eyebrow in intrigue. The creature mimics his expression and raises an eyebrow as well. Seeing this, Justin blinks as his neck lurches back. The creature does the same. Justin then slowly raises his hand and waves uneasily. The creature mirrors him perfectly and waves back at him. Justin leans in close and squints as if examining the blue oddity. The creature stretches its neck towards him and narrows its eyes too. The two remain locked in this stare for several seconds. Suddenly, the creature lunges at Justin, startling him, making him yelp, and stagger backwards. The little fuzzball then presses its paws to its tiny mouth and closes its eyes as it loops through the air, laughing. Justin: You think that’s funny, you little squirt? Washu: (wearing her nurse’s outfit) OK! I’m ready! Huh? Justin: (making faces at the creature) Blehh! Nyaaa! Duuh! The creature does the same and blows a raspberry at him. Justin: Hey! Washu: Oh, I see you’ve met the Zilder. Justin: The what? Washu: A Zilder: an alien with phenomenal psychic abilities. Levitation, telekinesis, he can even read your mind. They’re also very friendly and very smart. Justin: And as immature as an eight-year-old. Washu: Look who’s talking. They come from a planet millions of light years away. But I found this little guy here on Earth. Just wandering around. “flash!” Justin: Huh? What’s he doing? The little alien is now emitting flashes of light. But they don’t seem to be doing anything. Washu: Oh, he must be trying to teleport. Justin: He can teleport too? Washu: Well, not as long as he’s in there. I suppose I’ll let him out for a little bit. With the dimensional shield around this lab, he won’t be going anyplace far. Washu presses a button next to the chamber and the glass wall disappears. The Zilder flies out and immediately gets in Justin’s face. Justin: 0_0 Mm.... (lurches back) The Zilder starts buzzing around Justin, chirping and squeaking incoherently in a soft and wispy voice that sounds like short high-pitched whizzing noises. Zilder: Zoo! Zoo! Zz zzz zoo! Washu: He seems to have taken an interest in you, Justin. He hasn’t acted this way around anyone else. Justin: (dodges and weaves uncomfortably) Lucky me. Can you put’im back now? Washu: Oh, just let him check you out. It won’t kill you. He’s perfectly harmless. Now... (cracks her knuckles) let’s get to work. Justin: Um, Little Washu.... why are you dressed like a nurse? “After that, I saw the Zilder every time I visited the Masakis. Over the next few weeks, he and I became fast friends.” Justin: Don’t you have a name? Zilder: (shakes his head) Justin: Well, I can’t just keep calling you “Zilder”. Should I give you a name? Zilder: (thinks for a second) ...... (nods) Justin: OK. Hmmm..... zilder... zilder.... zzzz.... zzzZack. No, too redundant. Umm.... Zander.... Zavier.... Zelda... Zilder: Grrr. Justin: Oh, right! You’re a dude. Zzzz.... zzzz.... azzz... ezzz... izzz... ozzz....... ozzzz.... Ozzy.... Ozwald.... Ozma.... Ozborn.... oz.... oz.... Zilder: Zzz? Justin: Hmm? Oz? You like that? Zilder: (nods) Zoo! ^.^ Justin: Oz. O-Z... Z. Yeah. Ozz with two Z’s! Cuz one Z’s a book and a prison. Ozz! Now that’s a name! Ozz: Zoo! (does a backflip) “Ozz became my best buddy. We hung out all the time; played games, listened to music, watched movies, he even took me flying a few times. And sometimes, we just talked. Well, I did all the talking, but Ozz was a great listener. Until he came along, I really didn’t have anybody to share my adventures with. I told him about all the different places I’d been to, the people I’d met, and the things I’d experienced. I felt like I could tell Ozz anything. He probably knows more about me than anybody else in this universe. He was my true-blue friend. Pun intended. Then one day, something happened that forever changed our friendship.” --Masaki house-- --dinning room-- Justin: Mmm. Could someone pass the tempura, please? Kiyone: (hands him a plate) Here you go. Justin: Thanks, Kiyone. Kiyone: You’re welcome. (grins) Justin: Mmmm! Man, this stuff is fantastic! Ozz: (sits on Justin’s head and looks down) Zoo? Justin: (looks up) Hey buddy! What’s up besides you? Ozz: (comes down and looks right into his eyes) ...... Justin: ... What? Ozz: (puts his antennae against Justin’s forehead) Justin: Um... what are you doing? Ozz: (puts his tails on both sides of Justin’s head) Justin: (nervously) Little Washu? Washu: (looks up, chopsticks in her mouth) Hmm? Justin: Um... what’s... Ozz: Relax. Open your mind. Justin: 0.0 What the... Ozz? You can... “BZZZZZZZZTTT!! BLAAMM!!” In a flash of light, Justin and Ozz are blown to opposite sides of the room. Kiyone: Justin! (runs over to him) Washu: (runs over and picks up Ozz) Kiyone: Justin, are you OK? Justin: (his eyes glow blue for a second, then turn back to brown) ..... wow. Kiyone: Are you in pain? Justin: Very much. Tenchi and Sasami come over and help Justin up. Tenchi: Are you alright? Justin: I think I’ll be fine. What about Ozz? Washu: Not sure. (holding an out-cold Ozz) hours later... --Washu’s lab-- Ozz is lying on a recovery table. Justin is sitting in a chair beside him, asleep. Justin: Zzzzz... “Justin. Justin, wake up.” Justin: (waking up) *snort* Free my men. Huh? “Did it work?” Justin: Did what work? Who’s there? (looks around, sees Ozz is awake and floating above the table) OZZ! You’re alright! What the heck happened back there? Ozz: Sorry about that. Guess I used a little too much energy. Justin: O__O ..... you... You can talk?? Oh my gosh, I’ve finally lost it. Ozz: Lost what? Justin: WHAA!! (falls off his chair) “whump!” Justin: you... y-y-you.... H-how did you hear that? How did I hear you?? Ozz: I’ve set up a telepathic link between us. We can hear each other’s thoughts. Justin: wha... wha... y-you..... why? Ozz: ...... I like you. ^.^ Justin: Huh? Ozz: A Zilder can establish a telepathic link with only one other living being within the course of its life. And I have chosen you, Justin, to be my bond. Justin: ... Why me? Ozz: Because you and I are very similar. (TK’s Justin back into his chair) You see, I was never one to be content with his surroundings or with the norm. So hundreds of years ago, according to your time, I left my home planet so I could explore the universe. Eventually my wanderings lead me here, to Earth. I stayed here longer than I had on other worlds, because there was something here that intrigued me more than anything I had ever seen. Humans. For over 200 years, I have watched mankind develop and progress. I’ve applauded their triumphs and pitied their failures. They’ve captivated me. And when I first met you and you told me of your travels, where you had been and what you’d seen, I felt I had found a kindred spirit. The adventurousness in your heart echoed my own. From a distance, I’ve shared in humanity’s collective adventures. And now, I wish to share yours and witness them first hand. (holds out his paw) Justin: ..... (smiles and shakes his paw) Ozz: I am your friend and companion for life, Justin.

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